Chapter 2 #2
The annual reinforcement was coming soon, since we were nearing the end of winter, but I furled my brows, trying to remember if we’d ever met up this early in the year.
I moved around a few meetings as Aibell and Ionia updated me on the faction’s security before making my way to find the two love birds.
Angus and Bride were in a weird, yet unique position here at the Pax.
Bride was of the Seelie court, and even at the Pax, the Seelie and Unseelie preferred to remain separated.
There was just too much hurt between all of us over our very long history.
However, Angus’s mother Beira was a cailleach, or an old hag.
They were of the Unseelie Winter court, but they were known for their intense jealousy—particularly of beautiful women.
Bride was still one of the most beautiful women on Earth, and Beira’s jealousy of her often led her to abduct Bride every winter when Beira was strongest. When we began the Pax, both Angus and Bride petitioned to come with us, and they shared their time equally between both courts.
It warmed my cold, dead heart to see the two of them so in love after so long together.
They had a cabin by the mountains and lived in the Pax headquarters full time as a precaution.
While Fate had played a role in their relationship, I worked with the other Unseelie members to help provide extra protection for Bride.
She hadn’t been abducted since, and watching her bloom was one of my favorite success stories since moving to St. Louis.
Even exhausted, I smiled genuinely as I approached them, “Bride, Angus, so great to see you two. I heard you might need my help?” I asked as I shook both of their hands.
Bride smiled at Angus. It was gross how adorable they were. Absolutely disgusting. I loved it. “I don’t need any help at the moment, but I did want to catch your attention. I know you’re busy, but I had something I wanted to show you,” she said, excitement shining in her eyes.
My smile grew wider as I peeked down toward her belly, and she laughed as she punched me lightly on the shoulder, “I’m not pregnant, dork. Angus and I likely will never have children, and both of us are okay with that. No, this.” She pointed toward the ground near the base of the mountains.
Small, neon purple and teal flowers were growing amongst the rocks and dirt near our feet.
My eyes went wide as I forgot how to breathe.
These flowers, called Lus Mór, or more commonly foxglove, didn’t resemble the plant that grew on Earth.
It developed more like a primrose with long pistils or stamens breaching out from the center of the plant.
Foxgloves were toxic, but Lus Mór were even more so.
To touch one would mean death, but my death magic made me immune to its toxins, which was likely why they summoned me here.
I almost couldn’t believe it. I stared in astonishment for long moments while I tried to figure out how these delicate, yet deadly, plants had made their way outside of Underhill.
I bent down and picked one of the purple flowers, examining its magical properties.
It was definitely Lus Mór, because the death magic radiating from its beautiful petals activated my own death magic at the base of my skull.
I ran through the options of how these flowers had made their way to the Pax.
It could mean that Underhill was gracing us with its presence, which I would’ve detected.
We had a special bond. Leaving Underhill was the most difficult thing I’d done in my life, since Underhill was the source of most Fae magic.
Or it could be the sign of a bad omen, that death awaited us.
These plants didn’t just grow like foxglove did.
It was magic, and I didn’t have the ability to grow Lus Mór here.
That magic solely rested on Underhill. I didn’t think any of the Unseelie, or Seelie for that matter, had the ability to grow it here either.
Were we creating our own Underhill by being here?
Angus and Brides’ postures shifted with discomfort etched across their faces. Were they troubled about the Lus Mór growing here, where they lived, or were they afraid that they had stumbled upon an omen? It was hard to tell, but I understood why they were concerned.
“I will do some research to find out how they’ve started growing here.
In the meantime, I’d appreciate it if you could keep this between us,” I said.
I didn’t want to start with any undue alarm in the rumor mill.
I was glad Ionia, my third, wasn’t here.
She and her pixie friends were the gossip mill in the Unseelie faction.
Angus nodded, “I know the significance of this plant. We will keep it quiet until you’re ready.”
As Angus and Bride walked back to their cabin, I bent down to the plants once more, then walked the path of the mountain, finding three or four more clusters of the Lus Mór in places I wouldn’t expect to see it—especially because the sun and moon here were simulations of Underhill.
There were some snakes near the plants, where they often liked to lay in Underhill.
I wasn’t sure how they lived amongst the Lus Mór without dying, but I left them be.
I gazed up to the top of the mountain peak, hoping to find some answers somewhere, but all I saw were our ever-present ravens circling high above.
“Thanks, homies. I’ll chat with you more about this when we have more time. In the meantime, I need to speak with Athena.” I dismissed my enforcers, thankful for the reprieve away from conversations I didn’t want to have.
The girls made their way out of the office, bowing at Athena as she walked in. Her power, beauty, and grace filled the room with her presence. She sat in the chair that Aibell had just vacated in front of my desk.
“Hey, Athena. It’s been a while. How are you?” I asked, settling back in my seat. We tended to have long conversations when Athena came for a visit.
“Hey, girl. All’s good here. I’ve just come by to see if you’ve heard the news?” she replied as she crossed her legs and got comfortable.
I sighed. “You’d think all of us old bats would have more to talk about than the office gossip. Which news are we talking about?”
“There’s a new Pax member. Vada has joined the Demon Faction,” Athena whispered as if the entire building wasn’t talking about her arrival. She adjusted her burgundy blazer, unbuttoning it as if she planned to be here for a while.
I smiled. “I did. In fact, it seems she and I have already met.” I didn’t tell Athena that I couldn’t remember anything but waking up naked in her bed, but hey.
“What do you know about her?” Athena asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know much. I know her history before she was Vada, and I know she’s an incredibly powerful succubus, but that’s about it.
Why?” I wanted to know more about her, but I couldn’t figure out if it was because she was new in town, or if our tryst last night made me curious why she would’ve taken me home and I couldn’t remember it.
I wondered if I begged her to use her powers on me.
It’d been a while. My face heated at the thought.
“Oh, nothing. She just seems exactly like your type is all.” Athena smirked as if she had me in a gotcha moment.
I wondered if Athena and Poe had been chatting this morning.
I should’ve probably talked with Vada already, but I was going on little sleep, had a hangover, and had found the Lus Mór all within a matter of hours.
There was a lot going on, and I needed to release some of this pent-up energy before my death magic decided to come out to play.
“Yeah, that’s definitely true. Something just feels off.
I haven’t quite figured out what it is yet.
You know me. I’m constantly jaded and tired.
” I scratched my nose, a gross habit I took on as a young child but couldn’t quite seem to kick when I was anxious.
I put my hands in my lap to stop the behavior.
Athena’s features softened as she pulled her long, dark hair back into a quick bun, tying it back from her face.
“I know you’ve been through some shit. Sometimes our instincts are spot on.
I trust you know best, but I really don’t think there is anything to worry about when it comes to the Demons.
They’ve been essential to the development of the Pax. ”
“We’ve all been through some shit. I mean seriously. I still train regularly, but I haven’t seen a major fight outside of the ring in decades. But something is definitely on the horizon,” I said.
I pushed back from my desk. My office window overlooked the Mississippi River with a view of the Arch.
The Arch’s construction wound up becoming the perfect storm to create a large portal.
Its usage was heavily guarded nowadays, but right now, it beheld a forest that resembled the Dark Wood in Underhill.
That pathway had been blocked for some time on behalf of dear old dad, so I assumed it was likely the Cryptids’ universe.
“Speaking of training, I came in here to pick you up. I’d like to go get a workout in, and I know you need an outlet for that hangover,” Athena said.
“H-how did you know?” I asked as I turned back to her, perplexed.
“Did you know you still have your sunglasses on?” she replied with a laugh.
Fuck.
“Alright, deal. We need to grab some food before we hit the gym. I’m going on next to no sleep and I’m hangry. No one enjoys working out with me when I’m extra,” I said as I grabbed the workout gear I kept in the office for this specific reason.
Athena laughed as she stood up. “Fine. Let’s go”